Switch mechanism



R. B. BENJAMIN SWITCH MECHANISM nec, 9, 1924. y 1,518,383

Filed June 2. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 78 gf 1,2 9 1 v Dec, 9, 1924.

R. B.l BENJAMIN SWITCH MEGHANISM Filed June 2. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

. UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN IB. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led June 2,

l 10 all whom t may cof/wem.'

` Be it known `that I, REUBEN B. BENqA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanisms, of which the following. is a full., clear, concise, and exact description, reierence being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specifica* tion.

My invention relates to switch mechanisms. 1

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a switch mechanism whic h will be simple in construction, eiiicient 1n operation and durable in use. l

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to Jfollow and from thel appendedl claims.

l In the drawings in which an embodiment of my invention is shown:

Fig. 1 is an axial section of .an angle socket provided with a lever switch;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the socket with the socket cap removed;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 4-4of Fig. 1, looking up;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the same plane as that in Fig. 1 showing'the switch mechanism in a different position than that in Fig. 1; j

Fig. 6 is a bottom-view of the upper portion of the insulating base;

Fig. 7 is a top view off the lower portion of the insulating base;

Fig 8 is a section substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the Y spring contacts;I and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the movable parts of the switch mechanism.`

In order to give a generalv idea of the construction it is here stated that the embodiment shown comprises an angle socket having a casing for housing the receptacle contacts, binding terminals and switch mechanisms, which are mounted on a two The casing l2 comprises the shell'17 surrounding the shell contact and insulating base 13 and the cap 18 detachably secured to the shell 17, the removal of which cap permits access to the binding terminals 19, (Figs. 2y and 3) supported by the insulat- 'ing base 13. An internally screw-threaded bushing 19a is secured toy the shell 17 in any suitable manner, by means of which the socket Carr be screwed on to a nipple, a set screw 20 being provided to prevent the bushing 19 from twisting on the nipple after it has been placed in the desired position. An insulating cup or disc 21 of fibre or other suitable material tits snugly in the cap 18 and prevents live parts, such as loose strands of the wires, from coming in contact with the metal parts of the casing. Also an insulating sleeve 22 of fibre or other suitable material is provided between the shell Contact 15 and the metal shell 17. The metal shell 17 is cut out to provide a pair of oppositely disposed spring tongues 23 (Fig. 2) each provided with a lug 24 stuck up therefrom, for engaging within a channel formed by beading outwardly the lower edge of the cap 18 as indica-ted at 25. By pressing in on these spring tongues 2f* the projections 24 are moved out of thc channel in the bead 25 and the cap can be slipped ofi' from the shell. j

One of the binding terminals 19 is directly connected to the shell Contact 15. The other binding terminal 19 is electrically connected to the center contact 14 through the Switch mechanism lo, that is to say, the

binding terminal is connected to one contact or brush of the double break switch and the center contact is electrically connected to the other contact or brush of the double break switch. The electrical connection between the shell contact and its bindino' terminal 19 is by. means of a screw 26 (zFigs. 3 and 4) the head of which bears against a washer 27, which bears on an inwardly extending flange 28 of the shell contact, and the shank of which screw extends through an opening in said flange 28 and is threaded into the binding plate 29 of the binding terminal 19. The screw 26 not only serves as an electrical connection between the binding terminal 19 and the shell contact 15, but also assists in securing the shell "contact 1n place on the insulating base 13, and inholdmg the upper and lower parts 30 and 31 of the insulating base together.

I Before describing the electrical connection trom the center contact to its binding terminal 19, I will iirst describe the switch mechanism which controls this circuit. This switch mechanism comprises two spring brushes or contacts 32 and 33 respectively, (Figs. 2 and 6) a movable switch arm 34 of conducting material, which snaps into and out of electrical engagement with the brushes 32 and 33, (thus making a double break in the circuit) a thumb lever 35 of insulating material for actuating the switch arm 34, and transmission mechanism 36 between the thumb lever 35 and the switch arm 34. The switch arm 34 and thumb lever 35 are both mounted on a common shaft or pin 37, which shaft is held in place by having its end located in notches or recesses 38 and 39 in the upper and lower sections 30 and 31 of the insulating base, (Figs. 6 and 7). The transmission mechanism 36 between the thumb lever 35 and the switch arm 34 comprises a link 40, (one end of which pivotally engages the thumb lever 35 and the other end of which has a swinging and sliding movement with respect to the switch arm 34,) and a coil compression spring 41 surrounding a portion of the link 36, one end of which coil sprinobears on ashouldcr 42 on said link land the other end of which bears on a trans- .versely extending portion 43 of the switch arm 34. One end of the link 36 extends to an opening 44 inA thetransversely extending portion 43 of the switch arm, thel opening 44 being large enough to permit the link to slide and have a swinging movement with respect to the said transversely extending portion. The other end of the link 36 lies in a slot 45 of the thumb lever 35 (Figs. 5 and 10) and a short pin 46 is secured to this end of the link 36, the ends of the pin resting in notches in the end of the thumb lever 35 as indicated at 47.

Each of the spring contacts 32 and 33 9) which bears on and is secured to the upper portion 30 of the insulating base, and an S-shaped spring contact portion 49 having a contact face 50 for engagement with the switch ai'm 34. The switch arm 34 and the contact brushes 32 and 33 may be sheet metal stampingS, as may also the link 36. The

thumbi lever may be of sheet fiber or other suitable material cut to the proper shape. The brush 32 is electricall connected with one of the binding termina s 19 by means of a screw 51, which extends through an openingin the base 48 of the brush and is threaded into the binding plate 52 of the binding terminal 19 (Figs. 3 and 6). This screw 51 serves not only to make the electrical connection between the brush 32 and the binding plate 52 but also serves to hold the brush and binding terminal in place on the upper portion 30 of the insulating base. The other brush 33 is secured in place on the upper base portion 30 by means of an eyelet 53 (Figs. 6 and 8). This brush 33 is electrically connected with the center contact 14 by means of a screw 54 (Figs. 3 and 8) which extends through the eyelet 53 and is threaded into a washer 55 which bears against the base portion 56 of the center contact 14. The screw 54 thus serves not only as part of the electrical connection between the brush 33 and the center contact 14, but also serves to hold the center contact 14 in position on the lower portion 31 of the insulating base and helps to hold the portions 30 and 31 of the insulating base to ether. The switch mechanism 16 is locate in a chamber 57 inthe insulating base 13, this chamber being formed by opposed registering recesses in the upper and lower base sections 30 and 31. These registering recesses extend out to the edge of the insulating base portions 30 and 31 thus permitting the thumb lever 35 to extend outwardly so as to be accessible for operation from the outside ofthe casing, the casing being provided with a slot or opening 58 in which the thumb lever 35 operates.

ln addition to the screw 26 which helps to hold the shell contact. in place on the insulating base, a screw 59 (Fig. 8) is provided which extends through registering openings in the base sect-ions 30 and 31 and is threaded into a washer 60 which is seated against the Harige portion 28 of thel shell Contact l5. This screw 59 thus not only serves to help to hold the shell contact 15 in place on the. insulating base, but also helps to hold the hasn sections 30 and 31 to ther.

The device is wire by removing the cap 18, drawing in wires through the bushing 19' and securing them under the heads ot' the binding screws 61 of the binding terminals 19. The circuit (assuming that the switch is in closed position) is as follows From comprises a base portion 48 (Figs. 2, 6 and the binding plate 52 through the screw 51, lf

brush 48, switch arm 34, brush 33, screw 54, center contact 14, through whatever translating device is inserted in the receptacle, to the shell contact 15, thence through the screw 26 to the binding plate 29.

rlhe switch is moved from the on position shown in Fig. 5 to the off position shown in Fi g. 1 by pushing up on the thumb lever 35. The rst part of the movement of the thumb lever 35 causes no movement of the switch arm 34. However, when the pin 46 passes the dead center between the shaft 37 and the opening 44, the spring 41 begins to exert a pressure which will cause the switch arm 34 to snap .to a position shown in Fig. 1. In order to give a positive kick-oft to the switch arm in case lit sticks and is not released at the'proper period of movement the lower base sectionf31 is provided with a projection 62 (Figs. 1 and 5) located in position to be engaged by the link 36 in its movement. When this link 36 engages the projection 62 it positively forces the switch arm 34 free from the spring contacts 32 and 33 and the spring then causes the switch arm to snap away from the spring contacts. As the switch arm 34 snaps away the circuit. is quickly broken at two points, thus insuring a quick double break action.

For moving the switch from the oil' position shown in Fig. 1 to the on position shown in Fig. 5, the thumb lever 35 is pressed downwardly, and when the pin 46 passes the dead center the switch arm 34 snaps to the on position. In order to insure positive actuation of the switch arm 34 in case it sticks the upper base section 3() is provided with a projection 63 (Figs. 1 and 5) located in position to be engaged by thc linkV 36 in its movement. In case the switch arm 34 sticks the line 36 engages this projection 63 which gives it a positive kick-oft, after which the spring 41 will snap it quickly into the on position shown in Fig. 5.

In assembling the parts the switch mechanism may be first assembled as shownin Fig. 10 and it is then secured in position in the recess 57 simply by placing the ends of the pin 37 in the notches 38 in the upper base section 30, and then placing the lower base section 31 in position with respect to the upper base section. 'I he opposed notches 38 and 39 thus serve to hold the entire assembled switch mechanism in its proper position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j 1. In a switch socket compiising a casing, a two-part insulating base in said casing, separable on a plane substantially transverse to the axis of said casing, apair of binding terminals supported on the upper 'face of said upper base section, said base sections having a recess therebetween, a double-break switch mechanism located in said recess, comprising two brushes supported by said upper base, an electrical connection extending through said upper base section to one of said brushes, receptacle contacts supported by the lower base section, and electrical connections extending through the lower base section and electrically connecting the other of said brushes with one of said receptacle contacts, said switch mechanism comprising a snap switch arm for making and breaking contact with respect to both of said brushes simultaneously.

2. In a switch socket comprising a casing a two-part insulating base in said casing, separable on a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the casing, said base sections having a recess therebetween, binding terminals supported on the upper face of the upper base section, and a switch mechanism located in said recess comprising a switch arm pivoted to operate in a plane substantially through the axis of said casing, and a pair of brushes bothsupported by the upper base section, and located on opposite sides of said switch arm, said switch arm operated to snap into and out of engagement with respect to both of said brushes simultaneously.

3. In a switch socket comprising a casing, a two-part insulating base in said casing, separable on a plane substantially transverse to the axis of said easing, said base sections having a recess therebetween, and a switch mechanism located in said recess, said switch mechanism comprising a snap switch arm pivoted to operate in a plane substantially through the axis of said casing, and yielding means for causing said switch arm to snap from one position to the other, one of said insulating bases being provided with means to give a positive start to said switch arm.

4. In a switch socket comprising a casing, a two-part insulating base in said casing, separable on a plane substantially transverse to the axis of said casing, said base sections having a recess therebetween, a-

switch mechanism located in said recess, said switch mechanism comprising a pair of brushes, and a switch arm for making and breaking the connection between said brushes, receptacle contacts supported by said lower base section, an eyelet extending through said upper base section for securing one of said brushes in place on said upper base section, and a screw extending through said eyelet for electrically connecting this brush with one oit' the receptacle contacts.

5. In a switch socket comprising a easing, a two-part insulating base in said casing,

separable on a piane substantially transverse. comprising the base portion bearing` against to the axis of said casing, said base sec the upper base section, and an S-shaped tions having a recess therebetween and a spring portion, one of the arms of which 10 switch mechanism located in said recess, engages said switch arm.

said switch mechanism comprising a. pivoted In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subswtch arm, and a pair of brushes secured to scribed my name.

said upper base section, each of said brushes REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

